The Virtual Outpost of Author M. D. Boncher

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Monthly Archives: March 2017

Not because I couldn’t make the time due to work or life, but because mentally I was not there. The story was not jelling. Pieces were missing that were critical to make things go together. For me, plausibility and motivation are big. If they do not work in my head, I know they won’t work for the reader.

So I’ve been thrashing about.

Not to mention I’m still stressing about book sales and getting ready for the print release of book one (Yes that’s still happening soon) and just all the other stuff in life. It’s been overwhelming to my brainal like substances.

With that being said, last week has been quietly good. I’ve done a lot of research on medieval life and culture. It has had lots of points that are transferable to my setting. I have also gotten some good feedback from a reader or two, so that’s a plus out there too. My head likes maps and seeing the location of things as well as understanding some of the subtleties of a culture. A single piece of information that came was just sort of a toss off on one bit of research became critical for me. That piece of information? In the middle ages, people believed insanity was contagious!

Ta Da! Tons of problems solved. Don’t get me started about balancing the humors. I still don’t quite get that and am grateful for divine healing in the setting. Just ick. Even the word “Black Bile” does me no favors.

So now, I’m on the verge of the surge in writing. I just have to clear my space of distractions… (see you later Guild Wars 2)… and focus on putting out more content. It has been helpful to talk things out with a few people too. Simple things even like tonight. I mentioned my struggle about the setting of the village of Kynligrspiejl and one word helped push me past it all, and that word was ‘artisan’. And that was the term that helped me bootstrap into what I need to fix so I can start another plot line that is required to weave into this tapestry I’m making. Where ALRDW was more of a thin braid, this is a tapestry. Very big and audacious. Many themes that will set up the rest of the books will be started and enriched.

I’m looking forward to that, but it’s making my life a bit crazy because it’s been like dragging a boulder behind me. I wonder if I’ll have to do a fast again?

ANYWAY!… move we shall.

Hopefully more reviews come up soon. I like hearing what you have to say.

So time for sleep, then awake, get the chores out of the way so I can sit down and write again with a clear mind.

A smartypants way of putting perspective on the fact that you are unique, but that unto itself is a paradoxical awareness that being unique makes you no longer unique. Individual and collective truth collide and nothing happens. The two ricochet off each other like billiard balls and carom about the pool table of life.

The working title and the map for “A Light Rises in a Dark World”

Lately I’ve been dealing with my own narcissism and struggles with getting my book out there. It has been good to see the impact I have had so far. The people who have read it and spoke to me about it have had almost universal glowing responses. They’ve all gotten something deeper out of the adventure, and that is what I hoped would happen. I desire to make this series something more than just a popcorn nom-fest, and have things to it that stick around with you for long after. Ideas that make you consider the world a little different, or maybe be that “Shakabuken” that changes your entire perspective on life.

What author doesn’t want that, right? Yeah, you know it. I see it in your face.

It’s that desire to live up to the accolade “You are special”.

But then comes the sharper edge realization as you watch your book rank drop, and you question whether or not what you wrote was any damn good. You go through the stages of ‘poser syndrome’ just like every other artist in the world and you come to realize another universal truth out there.

“I may be special, but the world don’t care.”

There’s not much you can do to make the world care either. Why? Because there are almost 8 billion other people in the world wanting to declare “I am special” too, and that just means you are another spike in the static of the global zeitgeist. Just another set of subatomic collisions producing incalculable numbers of quarks beyond that which go unnoticed

But, what we do not always know is that when we are that one particle that starts a chain reaction. Plus, we have the benefit of being fired out of the proton gun of personal will as many times as we choose to try. Fire. Nothing. Fire. Nothing. Fire. Something? No nothing. Fire again. And again, and again, again again.

But then you hit something and the chain reaction starts. Now the world sits up and takes notice because your idea, your creation is impacting the world in a way that cannot be ignored. You are breaking down the status quo, releasing energy into the world and creating or destroying to bring about something new. In a world of static, new is always good. New means something is happening that can be interacted with.

Or perhaps you are the particle just sitting there till something hits you and how you respond to it is what does the trick. Sometimes you are in the right place at the right time when the right particle just nails you in the keister and you light up the world around you with your reaction, be it good or bad. Just remember, for every quark created, you could be a cute or charmed reaction.

pew pew pew.

So, be aware of these simple facts.

You are special

The world doesn’t care

But that shouldn’t stop you either.

And if you keep trying, someday, you may change the world on purpose or just by being in the way of someone else who is.

And now to distract myself from working on book 2 and talk with you lovely people… tsk tsk tsk.

I must say that it has been so easy to get lost in my own creation. Writing Book 2 has been like driving in the mountains at night when the “holler fogs” are out. One minute you see things clearly, and you’re up high on a hill, then, zoop! right back into zero visibility with your high-beams reflecting back in your face.

Once again, I have rediscovered the desperate need I have in knowing my geography, and even more than that, the names of places. I know those of you who have read my book are going “Oh dear Lord! Not more long names!” Yep. They’re coming. When your naming convention is based on old Norse, Finnish, Icelandic, Swedish and of course lots of Norwegian with a dash of Ojibway for the pickle on top of that linguistic sundae, you get some strange names. But once named, and considered in the mental geography of my series, it is so much nicer to work there.

On the other hand, once I know the names of things, and where they exist in my mind, things get much easier and my confidence grows which means better chapters. Much shorter chapters too. I’m taking a tip from James Patterson on this one and going the Pringles route. Once you pop, you can’t… steal blatant advertising jingles. Blah! What was I saying!?

So anyway, it’s been a little harder going, but I’ve been having fun with it once I defeat the obstacles that keep rearing their heads. I was hoping to get 5 chapters done this weekend, but it looks like 3… mayyyybe 4 might be the result. We’ll see. The resistance is strong in this book.

On a positive note, the Alpha readers are looking at it as we speak and providing a little feedback, but since they don’t know where its going yet, and there are six subplots to work with… umm yeah, currently 6…it’s been a heck of a job braiding a big novel I never expected to happen in the first place! But that’s what I get when the readers fall in love with a secondary character. We’re going to have to see what to cull out and maybe use a freebie for you guys.

The even gooder news is that I am keeping careful track of things in the glossary and I am going to try and get help to hot link the terms, so those that buy the eBook will have a much better time with it. Not sure how yet, but it’s my desire, so if anyone has tips on how to set that up in Scrivener, let me know, please! I want to learn.

Also, an interesting side business may be cropping up. Once I research more about this, I’ll make an announcement. That will also wait till after I finalize banking and small business type of legals too (so after book 2 is in the hands of my lovely beta readers and editors which I hope will be late spring or early summer so I can meet my self imposed deadline.

Lastly, as a precaution, I’m removing all artwork from my blog that I did not purchase or do myself. Yes, I am sad about this, but thanks to the litigious society we live in, I’m just not going to risk it anymore. If people can get me some good advice on where I can get SAFE clip art for my website where I don’t have to be looking over my shoulder and worry about surprise bills, cease and desist orders

A very old WIP I did in Bryce and Poser. Not a selfie, but it’s how I feel right now.

Special torture followed up by a work week from hell… (84 hours in 7 days) has left me a mess. No writing done in that time, but a lot of anxiety over book sales and everything I should not be concerned with. But… it has been illuminating to struggle through this. I’ve learned how easily a single sale pops up your ranking, if only for a day or even a few hours, not to mention how important listing your book in the right list will help in exposure.

It is also surprising to see how Amazon ads work. Not what I thought, and certainly not as effective as I thought, but then again, that could be also because of my pricing. $3.99 seems to be daunting for many people, so I have an idea and if you are out there listening, I’d sure like to hear opinions. 🙂

I’m thinking of splitting the book up into 3 volumes. Price the first one as free and the second two at $0.99. It will not have the same cover, just something simple, tasteful and elegant using the seal. Nor will it have the map. Those are the benefits of buying the whole book in one piece, but perfect for those not sure if they want to invest in the first book of the series. Opinions now accepted. 😉

I’m also a little concerned with who to use as my POD supplier for my hardcover and paperback. I’m not thrilled with Createspace (because your royalties for their Expanded Distribution are beyond laughable.), nor Ingram Spark (For reasons not worth going into). Direct2Digital looks the best, but they can’t sell on Amazon, so that’s a big concern but it could sell on Kobo and Smashwords among others. So… it’ll still be on Barnes & Noble too. Sigh. Plus the cost is looking as high as $15.00 for trade paperbacks! Yipes! (Most not for me)

Anyway, that’s why the silence for a long period. I could not get around so many things.

BTW Reviewers! I haven’t seen too many around save for a few of y’all who have been fantastic! They really do matter a lot for sales and rankings and promotions, so if you haven’t done one yet on Amazon, Smashwords or Kobo, (or Goodreads if you use it) please do! 😀 BTW, if anyone has had any problems purchasing on Amazon, let me know! Please! One person tipped me off that Kindle’s and the iPad ap may not be accepting purchases for my book. That’s just dirty pool if it’s happening to others. Otherwise you can still get it from the other two main vendors.

Okay, now… the plan as it sits right now. Stop focusing so hard on book 1. Work a new cover image, and see about splitting the book into 3 parts for sale, cheap. And of course, I will be ecstatic if I can get 10 chapters done by this time next week, 5 by Monday. So that’s the hope and the goal. I am going to be pushing hard to finish book 2’s first draft by Easter again. So that’s the big goal.